"I'm still far from dying."

Zhou Xuan manifested his Divine Soul and said, "The painter is carrying my body on the move. It won't be long before he returns safe and sound."

Upon hearing that both had returned intact, the Music Master let out a sigh of relief, while the Red Coffin Lady asked Zhou Xuan, "Young Master, did you reach the Heavenly Kingdom Bridge?"

"I did, I did. Guan Niang, do not fret. That 'Gong Zheng' is absolutely no good, but the Bitter Ghost you rely on seems decent—quite a bit of good character."

"Why would the Young Master say such a thing?" The Red Coffin Lady, upon hearing that the God-level entity of her hall was somewhat fair, couldn't help but feel happy. Yet, suppressing her excitement, she still wished to understand the reason... Why was the Bitter Ghost a benevolent God-level?

Zhou Xuan pointed at the ledger on the counter and said to the Red Coffin Lady, "Bi Fang invoked the 'Will Heavenly Book' to curse me to death. This wish required many gods to nod in agreement,

Seventeen God-level entities, to be precise, signed and sealed their approval for Bi Fang's request to the Heavenly Book.

I have reviewed the names of these seventeen God-level beings, and the Bitter Ghost's name does not appear."

The Bitter Ghost didn't sign, likely because he wasn't willing to curse Zhou Xuan to death, which shows he has principles.

Upon hearing this, the Red Coffin Lady felt immense comfort. Nobody likes being deceived... even if the deceiver happens to be a God-level entity of the Heavenly Dome.

"The disciples of the Divine Arrow Hall won't have it so well."

Yun Ziliang, always eager for chaos, said, "A god they've revered for two thousand years turns out to be a hypocrite—greedy and malicious. How distressed will they feel upon learning the truth? I reckon for years to come, even meals won't carry their usual taste."

"That's 'Gong Zheng's' business. It's nothing I can concern myself with," the Red Coffin Lady said while sitting down joyously, her face brimming with smiles.

Zhou Xuan, however, remarked, "I've remembered the names of those seventeen God-level entities. If I ever run across them... we'll have a grudge to settle."

Bi Fang's 'Will Heavenly Book' had essentially become Zhou Xuan's "Incense and Hatred Record." If he ever cultivated incense power, he'd be sure to settle the scores one by one.

The group conversed for a quarter of an hour when the painter emerged huffing and puffing from the dimensional space and entered the shop.

"Young Master's body now has an additional Divine Status, and carrying it was pure torment. It felt like my feet were stuck in a muddy pit, unable to move forward."

After wiping the sweat off his brow, the painter carefully placed Zhou Xuan's body upright.

Zhou Xuan's Divine Soul returned to its place, and he gave the painter a light pat on the shoulder before addressing the group, "You have no idea; Old Hua was quite impressive today, jabbed 'Gong Zheng's' nose bridge and scolded him for having an ill-tempered family lineage."

The group burst into laughter,

while the Music Master chuckled and said, "So you're saying Old Hua had a stellar moment in the spotlight today?"

"Absolutely. You folks didn't see it yourselves, but Old Hua's demeanor was far stricter than the sternest teacher you'd find in a private school."

Zhou Xuan described the scene in vivid detail, though the painter seemed a little embarrassed and waved his hand as he remarked, "Well, I did borrow the Young Master's aura. That one strike from the Young Master severed Gong Zheng's avatar."

"What?!"

The group simultaneously gasped in shock.

"This could spell trouble. Severing an avatar will surely enrage Gong Zheng."

The Red Coffin Lady added, "Struggles for divine positions atop the Heavenly Dome are extraordinarily fierce. Losing an avatar weakens one's power and often leads to defeat in such disputes, eventually resulting in being slain by a New God."

The Music Master agreed, "Indeed. Over two thousand years, among the twenty-four Heavenly Dome-level gods, the first to perish after ascension was the original 'Shui Yong.'

The sole reason being that Shui Yong severed one Dharma Body, leaving it in the human world as the Daoist Temple, stone tablets, and Qing Feng. With a missing Dharma Body, his power became the weakest, and decades later, a New God killed him."

"Well, severing is severing. A God-level like Gong Zheng perishing wouldn't be much of a loss."

"It's true he wouldn't be pity-worthy if he falls, but the concern is his desperation. Before perishing, he might come looking for trouble with the Young Master."

The Music Master expressed his worry.

The Red Coffin Lady, Yun Ziliang, and the painter all wore faces of concern.

Zhou Xuan, however, was unconcerned, saying, "I'd actually welcome his visit... If he truly comes for me, the fourth Divine Status will be mine."

With the 'Will Heavenly Book's' existence, the more Divine Statuses Zhou Xuan held, the smoother the fulfillment of the Heavenly Book's wishes.

Seeing Zhou Xuan's carefree demeanor, much of the worry faded from the group's faces.

"It's getting late. Let's begin the Divine Pointing ceremony."

Zhou Xuan said to the Music Master, "Lao Le, the painter plans to nominate you as the next 'Heavenly Official.' I have no objection. Swallow the Saint Heir and Saintess's incense, elevate your power, and once seated at eight and reaching toward nine, I'll commence the Divine Pointing ceremony."

"Thank you for your efforts, Young Master."

The Music Master retrieved the Saint Heir and Saintess's golden incense, tossed it in front of him, and the incense floated in mid-air.

He sat cross-legged and began absorbing the incense's power.

During this moment, Peng Sheng's reformed flesh was completed, and he entered the hall.

He refrained from commenting much on his new body, mainly to avoid disappointing Yun Ziliang.

However, Yun Ziliang enthusiastically patted Peng Sheng's chest and abdomen.

After several pats, he clasped his hands in congratulations, saying, "Mr. Peng, your new body has exceptional elasticity and looks like that of a living person. Congratulations from this old Taoist."

"Taoist Yun, you too shall have a new body in no time. I've merely taken the first step."

"It will happen, it will happen."

Yun Ziliang murmured to himself, encouraging his own confidence.

"Brother Peng, you've come at the perfect time. Once the Music Master finishes absorbing the incense, I'll prepare the Divine Pointing and conferment ceremonies for both of you."

"Many thanks, many thanks."

Peng Sheng was visibly thrilled. Just days ago, he had been a mere ghost, yet now he had a new body and Divine Status to his name. All his blessings were converging at once—it was impossible not to be exhilarated...

...

Once the floating golden incense had completely burned out, the Music Master, per the painter's plan, elevated his power to seating at eight and gazing toward nine.

"Music Master, Peng Sheng, activate the Kongming Mirror."

Zhou Xuan's face bore a divine intensity as he spoke.

He refrained from addressing them as "Lao Le" or "Brother Peng," not out of indifference, but because he was adopting the role of the 'Supreme Will.'

As the 'Supreme Will,' he embodied the Heavenly Dao—unbiased and emotionless.

Fully immersed in his role, Peng Sheng and the Music Master were likewise affected. Their casual expressions from earlier gave way to fervent reverence, tinged with awe.

The two simultaneously knelt on one knee before Zhou Xuan, one hand resting on their waist and the other extended forward.

Above their palms floated a Kongming Mirror.

Zhou Xuan also closed his eyes, focusing, and summoned his own Kongming Mirror.

Three Kongming Mirrors hovered in the air simultaneously.

Zhou Xuan released his consciousness into the mirrors.

He wandered through the Mirror World but did not see the Music Master or Peng Sheng.

"They should appear soon."

With a thought, a booming noise reverberated through the Mirror World. Mountains surged and receded,

The earth fractured, and an invisible, formidable force tore open the fissures... As the cracks widened, two isolated landmasses slowly ascended from the gaps,

One landmass carrying Peng Sheng, the other holding the Music Master. The two abruptly materialized within Zhou Xuan's Mirror World...

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